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The Health Benefits of Pineapple E-mail

pineapple


The pineapple is indigenous to the South American countries Brazil and Paraguay. Pineapple was well distributed throughout Latin America by the indigenous population before Columbus found it and took it back to Spain.

Attempts to cultivate pineapple in Europe failed due to the fruit’s need for a tropical climate in order to grow.

Portuguese and Spanish explorers carried pineapples aboard their ships as protection against scurvy, and soon introduced them into Africa and Asia where they flourished.

Today Thailand is the world’s top pineapple producer, with the United States, the Philippines, China, Brazil and Mexico other major producers.

Health Benefits of Pineapples

  • Nutrients
    Pineapple is an excellent source of vitamin C and manganese. It’s a very good source of vitamin Bl. It’s a good source of vitamin B6, copper, magnesium, and dietary fiber.
  • Glycemic Index (GI)
    In a study to determine the GI of various foods, it was concluded that pineapples have a low GI of 46 - 51.
  • Mucha Habermann's Disease
    Mucha Habermann's disease (Pityriasis lichenoides chronica) is a rare disease of the immune system of unknown origin, characterized by recurrent red, round and elevated lesions on the skin. In a 3-month study involving 8 patients with Pityriasis lichenoides chronica (PLC), they were treated with bromelain, an enzyme found in pineapple and pineapple stems. It was concluded that bromelain is an effective therapeutic option for PLC after all patients showed complete recovery.
  • Thrombosis
    Studies have shown bromelain to display fibrinolytic and antithrombotic activity, and two clinical trials on heart patients have shown a practically complete elimination of thrombosis.
  • Digestion
    Bromelain aids and promotes digestion due to its protein digesting capabilities, and may relieve symptoms of stomach upset or heartburn.
  • Sinusitis
    In Germany, where bromelain is approved by the German Commission E for the treatment of sinusitis, a clinical trial demonstrated that children diagnosed with acute sinusitis recovered significantly faster when treated with pineapple bromelain compared to other treatments.
  • Anti Inflammatory
    There is some clinical evidence that suggests the effectiveness of bromelain as an anti-inflammatory, and may reduce swelling, bruising, healing time, and pain following surgery and physical injuries. In a 3-month study involving subjects with mild acute knee pain, it was concluded that bromelain might be effective in ameliorating pain.
    Bromelain found in pineapple is a proteolytic enzyme (enzymes that digest protein), and in a clinical trial involving patients with periarthritis of the shoulder, and also patients suffering from painful osteoarthritis of the knee, pain reduction with the treatment of proteolytic enzymes was comparable to those treated with NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)
Nutrient Values of Pineapple per 100g
Calories
50kcal
Energy Value
209kj
Total Fat
0.12g
Carbohydrates
13.12g
Sugars
9.85g
Dietary Fiber
1.4g
Protein
0.54g
Sodium
1mg
Zinc
0.12mg
Potassium
109mg
Iron
0.29mg
Magnesium
0.927mg
Copper
0.110mg
Calcium
13mg
Vitamin C
47.8mg
Vitamin E
0.63mg
Vit. B3 (Niacin)
0.500mg
Vitamin B6
0.112mg
Vit. B1 (Thiamin)
0.079mg
Vit. B2 (Riboflavin)
0.032mg

References:
1. The Encyclopedia of Healing Foods by Michael Murray, Joseph Pizzorno, and Lara Pizzorno.
2. Benders' Dictionary of Nutrition and Food Technology.
3. USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference
4. Massimiliano R, Pietro R, Paolo S, Sara P, Michele F. Role of bromelain in the treatment of patients with pityriasis lichenoides chronica. J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18(4):219-22. PMID: 17671882.
5. Walker AF, Bundy R, Hicks SM, Middleton RW. Bromelain reduces mild acute knee pain and improves well-being in a dose-dependent fashion in an open study of otherwise healthy adults. Phytomedicine. 2002 Dec;9(8):681-6. PMID: 12587686.
6. Felton GE. Fibrinolytic and antithrombotic action of bromelain may eliminate thrombosis in heart patients. Med Hypotheses. 1980 Nov;6(11):1123-33. PMID: 6256612.
7. Klein G, Kullich W. [Reducing pain by oral enzyme therapy in rheumatic diseases]. Wien Med Wochenschr. 1999;149(21-22):577-80. PMID: 10666820.
8. Braun JM, Schneider B, Beuth HJ. Therapeutic use, efficiency and safety of the proteolytic pineapple enzyme Bromelain-POS in children with acute sinusitis in Germany. In Vivo. 2005 Mar-Apr;19(2):417-21. PMID: 15796206.
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